Method of manufacturing sinkers for knitting machines



. 9, 1930. H. E. s'rouT 1,784,256 METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SINKEFISy FOR KNITTING MACHINES Fild 001'.. 12, 1928 ven Patented Dee. 9,1930

UNITEDI STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD E. STOUT, F WEST READING, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD 0F ILIANIJ'IEACEFURIN G SINKEBS FOB IKNITTIN G MACHINES Application led October 12, 1928. Serial No. 312,192.

This invention relates to improvements in the method yof manufacturing sinkers for knitting machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cheap and eicient method for constructing and accurately assembling sinkers for knitting machines.

In accordance with my invention I provide an improved method whereby the rivets ordinarily used in holding the'reenforcing side plates of the blade of a sinker are eliminated. In place of the rivets used according to the prior art, I provide struck up or raised lugs or projections on the side plates, formed integral therewith. These lugs serve as means for positively aligning the reenforcing plates with respect to the blade, as well as rivets for holding the plates against the blade.

In constructing sinkers for knitting machines, it is necessary accurately to align the reenforcing plates with respect to the blade to which they are attached, in order to secure the best results. According to the prior art, it has been the custom to secure the reenforcing side plates tothe blade of these sinkers by means lof rivets passing through the plates and blade, the ends of the rivet being flattened in countersunk holes in the side ofthe plates. This method of construction requires great Aare in assembling, as the rivets are rather small and hence are difficult to handle. Furthermore, because the plates, blade and rivets are all separate bled sinker using the type of side plate shown pieces, great care must be used during the riveting operation, in order to insure that the respective parts maintain their proper position with respect to one-another so that the nished article is in its correct form and alignment.

With a device constructed in accordance with my invention, the holding means are lugs forming a part of one of the plates and therefore are positively and' accurately maintained in their proper position; In carrying out the assembling process, it is necessary merely to place a blade having the proper holes therein over one Lof the reenforcing plates having struck up lugs thereon corresponding to the holes in the blade, then place the second reenforcing plate in position on top of the blade, this plate being furnished with holes corresponding with the lugs similarly to the blade and then head over the rivets, thereby finishing the operation. With this construction the lugs being formed integrally with one of the side plates are not readily moved out of =alignment during the assembling and heading operation.

The above mentioned and other objects and advantages and the manner of attaining them will be made clear in the following description-taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates in vertical section a sinker constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates in section a portion of a side plate after the first step of forming a lug thereon. v

Fig. 3 is a view in section of a portion of a side plate showing lthe nished lug thereon.

Fi 4 illustrates in plan View one of the reen orcing plates. v

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modied form of sinker constructed in accordance with mv invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the sinker shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a finished sinker.

Fig. 8 shows a form of side plate adapted to be used on either side of a sinker blade in cooperation with a like plate.

Fig. 9 is a view of a portion of an assemin Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates a sinker -bladerhaving attached thereto reenforcing plates 2 and 3. Plate 2, as indicated in Fig. 1,-is provided with a pair of lugs or rivet portions 4 and 5 formed integral therewith. The lugs 4 and 5 project through cooperating holes 6 and 7 in the blade l and `are, just long enough to provide a head 8 which is riveted into a countersunk portion 9 of the holes 6 and', so as to form a flat-surface with the face of the plate 3. The sizeof the lugs and 5 is such that they' fit closely and accurately in the holes of the blade. Thesequence o and then blanking the. outside to the shapev vtions required to produce the finishe required. The number of forming o eralu(r may vary according to the characteristic? of the metal used. The first operation of the die may form the metal approximately to the slape indicated by Figure 2, after which the lug may be brought to the finished shape indicated by Figure 3, by one or more operations dependin on the characteristics of the metal used;va er which, by the final operation, the metal i's'blan'ked or cut out to the` finished `shapeas indicated by Figure 4. The operations required lto convert the element of Fig. 2 to the shape shown in Fig. 3

may comprise a setting back `,step to change the rounded projection of Fig. 2'to one with straighter sides such as in Fig. 3; and a final setting or coining operation to produce sharp, clearcutangles or corners on the lu'g. By this method all of thelugs are first made to an exact and uniform length and diameter, and the plate blanked out thereafter so that an accurately dimensioned finished article is obtained.

While I find -it preferable at present to form the lugs by a series of drawing operations, they might be made by extruding the metal of the side plate in the form of a tubu- Referring to the modifications shown in `Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the lugs or plates. 4But two operations are required in making this type of plate. During the first operation the lugs are-cut out and struck' up and during the second operation the plate is blanked out: to the required size. The

manner as set forth in connection with the sinker shown in Fig. 1. ,In making this form of sinker. while therlugs may be struck up both in the same direction it may be found desirable to form them oppositely, so that Athey face each other as indicated in Fig; 5

of tliie drawing. The reason for this is that with the type of lug shown, there might, under certain conditions, be a slight tendency for one plate to move slightly with respect simultaneously.

While I have shown one plate as carrying both lugs, itwill be understood that each the plates might be made to carry a lug, or

pair of lugs, in which case a riveted head would be on each side of finished sinker. With certain forms of sinkers this construction would be desirable as it would enable one to make identical plates to be used on both sides of the sinker blade and thereb reduce the number ofioperations require manufacturing process.

Fig. 8 shows a plate 9 constructed as4 described above, havingk two lugs 10 and two in the holes 11. When made in this manner an identical shape of plate serves for both sides of the blade, the lugs on one late fitting in the holes in the other plate. he plates are shown assembled in Fig. 9.

Y While I have described a particular embodiment of my invention forthe purpose of illustration, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and adaptations may be made without a departure from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. 'Ifhe method of progressively die forming a'sinker plate for a .knitting machine whichv comprises first striking up a projection on a piece of stock, then setting back said projection to form a lug, and finally setting the stock to produce shar corners on the lug where desired and blanking out the stock tol 1 positioned integral rivets on one side of one of said side plates, forming crrespondin rivet holes in the other side plate and in sai blade, assembling said one of said side plates' with said blade and the other side plate by means of said corresponding rivet holes, and finally heading said rivets.

43. The method of constructing a sinker for a knitting machine which comprises providing a blade having rivet holes therein, forming a side plate bystriking up rivet-like prosaid sheet to the shape of a side plate having said projections accurately positioned thereon, and thereafter assembling said blade and said side plate and heading said'rivet-like projection. y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this 6th day of October, 1928. Y

HAROLD E. STOUT.

to the other during the riveting operation two rivets are made facing each other this because of va slightbending of the lug. If

sinker is then assembled in exactly the same eCtOIlS 011 a Sheet 0f stocke-nd blanking out J 

